Record Song Ideas Anywhere You Go

As a modern audio professional, you'll more likely than not find yourself tracking projects outside of the confines of a studio. Unfortunately, going mobile often means sacrificing sound quality and/or input channel flexibility. But it doesn't have to. The PreSonus FireStudio Mobile is a ten-input, six-output FireWire audio interface that can be powered right from your laptop. The PreSonus FireStudio Mobile has a higher channel count--including digital I/O--than most every other interface in its price range, yet delivers top-notch fidelity thanks to a pair of XMAX microphone preamps and converters capable of 24-bit/96 kHz analog to digital audio resolution.

Ten Inputs, Six Outputs

The combination of ten analog and digital inputs lend this compact interface a flexibility rivaling units twice its size. The first two inputs alone on the PreSonus FireStudio Mobile offer a ton of recording options. Their "combi" XLR / 1/4" connections give you access to studio-class XMAX preamps. Instead of shopping out their components to a wholesale supplier, PreSonus designed these XMAX preamps in-house and from the ground up to ensure tight quality control and high fidelity standards. With 80 decibels of available gain (-10 / +70 for mic level, -30 / +50 for high-impedance instruments), these first two inputs can accommodate dynamic, condenser, and ribbon microphones, as well as direct guitar or bass instrument signals with equal facility. The next six analog inputs are balanced line-level TRS jacks, perfect for routing additional external mic preamps-- or line-level sources like keyboards, drum machines, and DJ mixers. Finally, PreSonus FireStudio Mobile offers 2 channels of S/PDIF digital input for the most direct, seamless connection of external digital audio gear. Also included is a full MIDI I/O to integrate your favorite controllers and other MIDI-sync-able outboard gear.

Mobile Metering And Monitoring

For instant feedback while tracking, the PreSonus FireStudio Mobile sports a pair of three-segment LED assigned to the two mic preamps. You'll easily be able to see if you've got signal, or if you're in danger of unwanted clipping. A dedicated headphone output with a robust amplifier makes monitoring with cans as accurate as can be, and once you do get back to your studio to put the final touches on your project, the 1/4-inch outputs get the goodness flowing through your studio monitors. You can even output directly to reference monitors that support S/PDIF connections.

Daisy Chain For Additional Inputs
Thanks to a driver update from the manufacturer, expanding your channel count with multiple PreSonus FireWire interfaces is easy implies. Simply run one cable into your computer and another to the feed from an additional PreSonus FireWire interface and just like that you've got more channels. Graphics-based driver software makes managing your multiple inputs easy-- the number of interfaces in your input chain is limited only by your computer's hardware.

Fantastic Software
When all that sweet audio hits your FireWire cable, it's got to go somewhere, right? Not one to leave you hanging, PreSonus bundles their Studio One software with the Presonus FireStudio mobile interface. Studio One is a full-featured DAW suite to handle all your recording, mixing, and mastering needs. And, if you act now, PreSonus will throw in 20 native effect and virtual instrument plug-ins, plus a pantload of additional loops and sounds. Okay, you don't actually have to act right this second to get all this; it all comes standard with the FireStudio Mobile. But now that you know what's waiting for you, why would you possibly want to act at any other time?

Mobile recording isn't just becoming a more common gig for working engineers, it's becoming a necessary component for all recording enthusiasts. The affordable, rugged, and entirely capable PreSonus FireStudio Mobile not only makes remote recording gigs an option, it makes them--and you--sound great.

Note that the speed of your processor, amount of RAM and size and speed of your hard drive will greatly affect the overall performance of your recording system. Also, a more powerful system (faster processor with more RAM) will allow for lower latency (signal delay) that you might experience while monitoring audio or MIDI signals.

Monitor resolution for both PC and Macintosh should be no lower than 1024x768 pixels.

Product Description

Finally, a studio-quality FireWire interface that you can use anywhere! The PreSonus FireStudio(TM) Mobile combines the superior analog-circuit design and advanced platform technology of the acclaimed FireStudio rack-mount interfaces with the ability to run on bus power in field applications. Now you can have enhanced audio performance for music recording and creation anywhere you can lug your laptop!

The Most Inputs of Any Mobile Interface

PreSonus FireStudio Mobile is a ten-input, six-output professional recording system that combines two PreSonus XMAX(TM) Class A microphone preamplifiers; six line-level, analog input channels; S/PDIF digital input and output; MIDI I/O; and headphone monitoring with separate gain control. PreSonus FireStudio Mobile beats any and all competition when it comes to flexibility and input count. You can record a whole band with the FireStudio Mobile.

PreSonus FireStudio Mobile is bundled with PreSonus Studio One Artist, PreSonus' groundbreaking music creation program, and over 4 GB of virtual instruments, plug-ins, loops, and samples to get you started making music immediately.

True 48-Volt Phantom Power - Even When Powered By Your Laptop

Here's a dirty little secret: bus-powered mobile interfaces from other manufacturers deliver much less than the full 48 volts of phantom power that is specified by microphone manufacturers. This means even the finest condenser microphone can't work at optimal internal gain levels, potentially compromising sound quality even before the signal gets to the mic preamp.

PreSonus president Jim Odom and his team of engineers went the extra mile and created an "internal switching power plant" that lets the FireStudio Mobile convert computer bus power into a full 48 volts of phantom power, as well delivering 30 volts to power the superb mic preamps you'll read about next.

XMAX(TM) Class A Preamplifiers

PreSonus knows that the mic preamplifier is a key component in the sonic quality of a recording. Many other companies that offer mobile recording interfaces add the cheapest possible microphone preamplifier as an afterthought. In contrast, PreSonus FireStudio Mobile includes custom-designed, high-voltage, discrete, XMAX Class A microphone preamplifiers that are suitable for use with all types of microphones.

The job of a microphone preamplifier in an audio interface is to boost a microphone-level signal to line level before conversion to the digital domain. A good preamp boosts the level to almost 400 times that of the original signal, making the preamp one of the most important stages in an interface. A cheap, off-the-shelf, op-amp-type mic preamp delivers thin, noisy, harsh results. But with XMAX preamps, the sonic quality is limited only by what microphone you plug into it.

XMAX preamplifiers are built with three key elements:

- High voltage. The XMAX preamplifier runs on power rails of 30V. Most off-the-shelf, op-amp-based designs run on power rails of 10V to 18V. Higher-voltage power rails deliver more headroom, deeper lows, smoother highs, and a richer overall sound.
- Discrete components--not op-amps. They only use genuine transistors, resistors, and capacitors. Op-amps add noise, coloration, and harshness to a signal. The discrete design delivers ultra-low noise and transparency.
- Class A. Class A circuits have no crossover distortion and deliver purer, clearer, and more musical results than the Class AB designs that are found in many preamps.

The net result of the XMAX preamp design is high headroom, low noise, wide dynamic range, extended frequency response, and--most important--musicality and transparency, with smooth highs, solid deep lows, and everything in between.

On the Front

A pair of 3-LED level/clip indicators let you check the signal levels for channels 1 and 2, and a button enables 48V phantom power for the two mic channels. Also on the front panel are gain knobs for the two mic/instrument inputs and for the main stereo outputs and a stereo headphone output with gain knob. Gain for the mic inputs ranges from -10 dB to +70 dB; the high-impedance instrument inputs range from -30 dB to +50 dB of gain. Finally, a power/sync indicator LED shows whether the FireStudio Mobile is receiving adequate power and is correctly receiving word clock.

Ins and Outs

For a compact, portable unit, the FireStudio Mobile is loaded with I/O. They start with a pair of combination XLR/TS mic/instrument jacks, which are in the inputs for channels 1 and 2. The XLR mic inputs are routed to the aforementioned XMAX solid-state mic preamplifiers. The high-impedance, TS instrument inputs let you plug guitars or basses directly into the front panel.

On the back are 6 more balanced, -inch line level inputs for channels 3 through 8, plus a DB9 connector that accepts a breakout cable (included) to provide stereo S/PDIF digital I/O and MIDI I/O. You get two FireWire 400 ports: one port connects to your computer, and the other can be used to connect a hard drive or to daisy-chain any FireStudio-family interface, including the StudioLive 16.4.2 digital mixer, allowing you to integrate the FireStudio Mobile into a larger system.

Digital Converters and JetPLL Sync

Synchronization to your computer is stable and robust, thanks to JetPLL synchronization technology. JetPLL incorporates noise shaping to virtually remove all audio-band jitter, ensuring near-perfect clock performance and optimal converter performance when networking two or more digital-audio devices. JetPLL quickly locks to any digital format through a wide range of frequencies and is extremely robust and tolerant of wide variations in clock frequencies. As a result, you'll experience better stereo separation and clearer, more transparent audio.

Universal Control

Like all members of the PreSonus FireStudio family (including the StudioLive 16.4.2 mixer), the FireStudio Mobile comes bundled with Universal Control software. Universal Control is a powerful, flexible, and easy-to-use control-panel application that allows you to daisy-chain to up to four FireStudio family devices for a maximum of up to 52 inputs and outputs (assuming your computer can handle that many tracks).

Universal Control consists of the Launch window and the Device window. In the Launch window, you can set the sample rate, clock source, safe mode, buffer size (PC only), and WDM routing (PC only) for all connected FireStudio Mobile-series interfaces. Each device is listed at the bottom of the window, along with Device Window buttons that open each interface's Device window.

The Device window provides level and routing controls for each FireStudio-series interface's internal mixer, enabling you to set up zero-latency cue mixes. Input and output metering have been optimized for ultra-fast screen display and minimum CPU usage, and you can give each interface a custom name. You can use any device in the chain as the master clock source, or you can slave the entire chain to an external digital device using any of the available digital inputs in the chain.

Studio One Artist--Plus Gigabytes of Creative Resources

The FireStudio Mobile is bundled with an exceptional software package, featuring PreSonus Studio One Artist, the amazing DAW software for Mac OS X and Windows XP and Vista that makes producing high-quality projects easier than ever before. As part of the Studio One Artist package, you get 20 upgraded PreSonus Native Effects plug-ins and virtual instruments and a generous bundle of third-party loops, software, and instrument sounds.

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
"Win7 Compatible FW AI - Best Bang for the Buck"

Sound:
I'd rate this puppy a 10 but it seems to be very touchy when it comes to buffer size settings, and also seems to have a mind of its own about what the Buffer Size should be set to. This forces me to deal with latency issues now and again, but I'm usually able to tweak it into submission. It sounds every bit as good as my TASCAM FW-1804 did, which is the only thing I can compare it to.
Feature:
Has what I need - phantom power, numerous inputs, nice preamps, TRS outputs.
Ease of Use:
The mixer application is little odd, but you'll eventually figure it out.
Quality:
Reliable, does what it's supposed to, unlike a LOT of the software I use with it.
Value:
Best bang for the FW AI buck, IMHO.
Manufacturer Support:
On the few issues I've submitted, PreSonus has been very responsive.
The Wow Factor:
The size is pretty amazing for what it does. So that's cool
Overall:
I won't need anything else for a long time.

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zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
"Great bang for the buck, but know your Firewire."

Sound:
Only a couple of small issues with this AI. The buffer setting can be tricky to get right - this requires making notes and a little forethought, depending on what phase of a project you're in. There's also definitely a floor of low-level noise on at least the two front-end inputs, which is easily gated out, but is annoying nonetheless.
Feature:
Has everything a unit of this type should have. Only quibble is with the S/PDIF inputs on the breakout cable. Just not sure how useful those are. A better choice might have been two more un/balanced standard audio inputs.
Ease of Use:
It can be mightily tricky to get this unit working, depending on what sort of Firewire interface you have. While this is more of a Firewire driver issue than a problem with the unit itself, those unfamiliar with the technology will be totally confused by the Universal Control program's insistence that the unit's "firmware is up-to-date" even when there's no unit connected - or, worse, when there's a unit connected, and it's sync'd to the FW interface, but not actually accessible to the audio system.
Quality:
SO far so good at well over a year now. Have only used it under controlled conditions. No idea how it'd fare on the road (or why one might need it there). Again, the only complaint is the low-level noise on the front-end inputs.
Value:
I think this unit is a great value for the price.
Manufacturer Support:
Mixed bag. My second B-Stock unit shipped w/o a breakout cable. Zzounds, in their typical awesome fashion, got Presonus to ship me one almost immediately, even though the item was listed on "permanent" back order. Presonus will not provide a loaner if an issue (like this noise problem) is clearly their responsibility. I find that off-putting.
The Wow Factor:
The diminutive size with so much functionality is a huge element, and was a big factor in getting a second (back-up / studio) unit.
Overall:
While this unit has its flaws like all entry-level equipment. For the price it's an excellent value and will serve one well if one is willing to do some legwork if necessary (e.g., working out Firewire issues).

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